FARMINGTON – At the Eggs and Issues Breakfast on Monday morning, state legislators from the Farmington area ate a buffet breakfast with local citizens, then discussed several issues pertaining to the recent legislative session, highlighted by a debate over gambling in Maine.
The event was presented by the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce and featured state Sen. Chandler Woodcock, R-Farmington, and Reps. Tom Saviello, D-Wilton, and Janet Mills D-Farmington.
After explaining some details regarding the Dirigo Health plan as well as some tax reform measures and budget cuts, the three debated gambling and racinos, disagreeing over several aspects of the proposed legislation.
Mills took a strong opposition to the racino bill, which she called “very dangerous.” In particular, she argued that while the bill is being portrayed as only affecting Washington County, it could in fact “include a gambling facility nearly anywhere in the state.”
“If they meant Washington County, why didn’t they just say, This is for Washington County?'” Mills asked. “The title of the bill says Washington County. Titles do not become law. The bill itself is not limited to Washington County. It’s a roundabout bill. It’s funny, oddly wrapped, oddly put together, and I don’t like the bill.”
Mills also argued that the bill could bring other forms of gambling to Maine, including high-stakes beano and off-track betting. She said that no local referendums would be used and that residents would not have veto power if a gambling operation wanted to open in their town.
Both Saviello and Woodcock supported the bill, although Woodcock took issue with Maine’s stance on gambling in general.
“I’m frankly a little weary of the hypocrisy when it comes to gambling in this state,” said Woodcock. “(Gov. Baldacci is the) second governor that I’ve dealt with, and both the governors have said, We are not in favor of gambling.’ But I’ll be darned if every convenience store in the state of Maine that you go into doesn’t have a $5 and $10 scratch ticket underneath the glass as you check out. So I’ll say this: If you want to eliminate gambling entirely, I’ll vote for it. But until you say no more of those little buggers underneath the counter, don’t talk to me about casinos. Because to me, it’s the utmost hypocrisy.”
On the issue of the Dirigo Health plan, the three legislators largely agreed that the program needed time to get going, and that with some tinkering, the plan could indeed work effectively.
“This is a work in progress,” Mills said. “It’s just getting off its feet.”
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